sixspeed

I must admit the VX220 Turbo was such great fun to drive.

I hate the look of the things, and I admit the Vauxhall badge puts me off too, but after driving it on Sunday I was just astounded at how much fun it was, and would seriously consider one.


-andy-

shahpor

same here. It is a little too extreme and demanding for my everyday use.

Still, maybe another drive would convince me! :D

Shahpor

Edo

Just complained about the lack of availability of the good stuff to the organisers, and they tell me people camped out over night to get the good stuff!!!

Anyhow, giving me free ticket to next year's as gesture of goodwill.

shahpor

Does that mean that you are going camping next year? :D

Shahpor

Edo

helicopter myself in in the middle of the night?!!

sixspeed

Well I must admit, I had to give in and take advantage of their 48-hour test drive they're offering at the moment. Even if I don't purchase the car, will give me something to have some fun with for a weekend. Getting one from Friday to Monday around this time next month. Costs 170quid and you arrange your own insurance!

Should be a good laugh hooning about the lanes for a weekend :D


-andy-

shahpor

Damn, 48 hour test drive sounds really good.

Don't even mind the £170, but I don't think my insurance company will cover it.

Shame really, could have had a lot of fun.

Shahpor

sixspeed

Worth a try - mine said that it was no problem and that they would just add it as a second car for a couple of days. I'm with Privilege.

It's got to be worth it just to have a bit of fun whilst we wait for our '8s to arrive! :D


-andy-

shahpor

Did they ask for any additional money for the cover?

I am currently with Greenlight, so I am not sure if they will do it.

What did you do, just call them and tell them you are borrowing another car for the weekend?

Also, are there any restriction from Vauxhall?

Shahpor

sixspeed

I just told them that I had been offered a 48 hour test drive and had to arrange my own insurance, and that was all. They arranged it as a second car (I think you can have up to 3 months cover on a second car in any policy year with Privilege - don't know about others).

They didn't charge me any more, again, not sure if this would be the same for you.


Vauxhall's only main criteria is that you are over 25. But as you drove the VX220 on the weekend, that's obviously not a problem Just register on the website. Btw, it does say on there that its for company car drivers only, but they never asked me about what company i worked for etc. Just keep quiet and let them give you the test drive is all i'd say


-andy-

thepenn

I too went on the Saturday. I arrived at 8:00am. I did not post earlier because most points had already been made.
I agree with shaphor and lensman in regard to the RX8. I saw the car early and spoke to the Mazda guy, 2 others came on the stand and we all had the opportunity of sitting in the front and the back. driver's position was very comfortable and the rear was more roomy than I had anticipated. Although roomy in the back, I thought it was almost like looking through a porthole when looking to the side of the car. I also had a good look in the boot and under the bonnet. The cover came off very quickly and easily in order to reveal the oil filler.

I thought the car was quite 'beasty' to look at, waiting to pounce. I loved it and cannot wait for mine. By the way, I told the guy that I thought that Mazda communications to its pre-order customers was ****-poor.
I went back to the stand a few times and I was peturbed to see that no-one was being allowed to look in the car - the doors were locked.
The Mazda guy in the afternoom worked in the Marketing Dept. Along with another, their current job was preparation of a summary accessory catalogue. Could take up to 6 weeks. A full catalogue would take longer, he said. He had also been to Germany to make a presentation to the organisation that groups the car for insurance purposes. He was expecting it to be Group 16.
On accessories - He said that Mazda would be offering an after market cruise control but unfortunately it would not be wired up to the OEM controls that would be on the right side of the steering wheel. Considering the fact that a factory fit would have been cheaper and better, I thought this was a bit sad. However, we can blame Mazda Europe for this.
He also informed me that Mazda were working on a smartnav system for the RX8, initially UK only. Cost would be at least £700 installation!
He could not confirm whether the sill scuff plates would be offered nor could he tell me whether the windscreen washer system was heated.

shahpor

Hello thepenn, I was one of the guys that saw the car with you. Wish I had not booked that drive now so I could have stayed a bit longer and seen the engine cover being taken off.

Seems like you managed to get a lot of information from the rep's.

Sixspeed: Will have to try my insurance company and see what they say. If Vauxhall ask me about it, I will tell them that my company has offered me a company car.

Will see what they say.

Shahpor

rael

This all sounds very promising after a period of negativity. Sounds like the 8 looks even better in person.

Can anybody comment on the overall quality of the paint work and interior fixtures compared to a quality European mark (say Audi).

Cheers.

shahpor

It is very promising. The 8 does look better in person, very aggressive.

I thought the paintwork was very good. The blue sparkled under the interior lighting and the overall quality was good.

The interior is harder to judge as it was obvious that this particular car had led a bit of a hard life being a demonstrator. There were marks on the steering wheel and on the back of the front seats. Still, considering what it had been through I would say it was very good. It seemed to be well built and the materials were of good quality.

Not the best I have ever been inside, but very good none the less.

Shahpor

Titanium Grey

I agree with Salphor, the paint had a good even finish all over the car and all external shut lines and accessories fitted very well.

The interior was very dark especially in the back due to the car being inside and the rear windows having the very dark Japanese tint so I cant really comment on the back. The front looked good, solid and well put together.

The only thing I'ma bit worried about is a possible problem some others have mentioned, the fake aluminium strips these were worn on the demonstrator and because of this they looked a bit cheap.

If this material used elsewhere on the car then if it is in a position where it could get knocked about this could be a problem.

Perhaps a coat of hard varnish would have helped here.

shahpor

Salphor?!???!? The misspelling of my name seems to be increasing! :D

Shahpor

AndyPearce

Don't take it personally Slaphor!! :p

shahpor

Don't worry I won't AndiPeers :D

Shahpor

Titanium Grey

Sorry, Shahpor, dodgy morning, dodgy brain!

Did any of you guys think the same about the plastic aluminium?

shahpor

Hey, don't worry about it :D

To be honest I didn't notice the trim you are talking about. Then again there seems to be a lot of things I didn't notice!

Again, will have to check it out when I see the car again at the motorexpo.

If there is anything else that people think needs checking out, please let me know so I don't miss anything this time!

Shahpor

ChrisW

I just wanted to add something about the insurance group information I got from the Mazda rep. I spoke to the one who was there on the Saturday afternoon and he seemed quite knowledgeable. They are aiming for groups 14/15 for the low power version and 15/16 for the high power. So far it's looking like they will get a grouping of 16/17 for the high power but they are continuing to lobby the insurance body (forgotten the name).

I mentioned that we are supposed to be getting insurance information this week and he said that he thought any grouping we get now would be provisional. "We are still working with them [the insurance body] and if we don't get what we want we will send it back to them. It could be as late as July if thats what it takes."

I was pleased that Mazda UK are taking this seriously. Right from the start Mazda have stressed that affordability was a key part of the RX-8 concept. Clearly they understand this also extends to running costs.

shahpor

Yeah, that is what the rep told me as well.

He said that they were waiting for Thatcham to approve the alarm system and give it a rating before the insurance can be decided.

Shahpor

oilman

Shahpor.

Thanks for the offer.

Could you please measure the boot opening, I've read its fairly awkward in shape.

Could you also measure the ground clearance at the front?

Cheers
Oilman

shahpor

No problem.

Will remember to take a tape measure with me!

Shahpor

Lensman

What is 'Smartnav' please and as I've ordered the factory fit nav system is it better and if so can it be added to my system?

Also, I was reading the RX-8 book (£26 if you do the 5000yen conversion) and it states that the designers really wanted to use real metal in the interior but had to use the silver plastic so that people don't get burnt when the car has been sitting in the sun all day.